In the last five years, the fight against breast cancer has moved along to where the drug Neulasta is now advertised on television. This drug which cost a patient $5,000 five years ago helps to boost the immune system during chemotherapy. Not that long ago only the lucky patients knew about the injection because their doctors were using the treatment.

Women are looking to oncology groups who are working with research programs to improve their outcome. They are no longer taking just one opinion, they are learning about their options before selecting where to have treatment.

Not far from here in Columbus, Ohio there are new clinical trials being conducted at the Stephanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center at Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center-James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute that is using personalized guidance for patients and their doctors using a 200 gene panel that generates a specific genetic profile for the cancer mass.

The Spielman Fund established in 1998 by Stephanie and Chris Spielman at Ohio State has an endowed principal balance of more than $9 million that is providing long-term income for breast cancer research. The Spielman fund is dedicated to advancing research in promising science.

At the Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center which was established five years ago, patients are receiving care which includes 3D mammography. The Center also has a low-level for treatment of lymphedema known as tomosynthesis.

With an estimated 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States, the mortality rate is decreasing. With good news also comes some of concern. Around 231,000 women will be diagnosed this year and sadly 40,000 will not survive the fight.

Genetic testing is leading to new ways to treat breast cancer. HER2 positive women (many are young women) are finding their doctors considering lower weekly doses of Herceptin combined with another chemotherapy drug because they are seeing results with less toxic treatments.

Post menopausal women are being treated with a bone-strengthening medication used to treat osteoporosis. Studies are finding that the recurrence of breast cancer in the bone has been reduced with this treatment.

Women diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer have been the hardest to treat and the outlook has been less than promising for an extended life. This kind of cancer is much more aggressive and accounts for 10 – 20 percent of all breast cancers. It is more likely to be found in young women, black women, Latino women and those with the BRCA1 gene mutation. This type of tumor unlike HER2positive has no estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors or the HER2 growth factor. This means that the three avenues of treatment targeted at the other forms of breast cancer are not an option for the patients.

Triple negative patients are treated with surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy however the treatment often has little effect on the tumor. This form is more likely to come back and spread.

Researchers are hoping that immunotherapy medication that activates a patient’s own immune system against the tumor could in the future be a promising way to treat triple negative women.

When thinking about where to make a donation, you should put some research into which breast cancer charity is putting the greatest percentage of your dollar into research. Many of the organizations have high administrative cost reducing the dollars going to find new treatments and one day a cure.

It is time to pull out the pink ribbons for another October, but let’s not forget to support those fighting the battle to stay cancer free, those taking the journey today and those who will begin their journey tomorrow. Above all remember those who are no longer here to share our spirit to “Fight like a Girl” but who will live on in our hearts for their courage, compassion and their ability to laugh and dance to “Save the Ta Tas”. In memory of Jill, a fighter and a woman who made this world a better place.